(Fort Smith, Arkansas, May 3, 2002) -- Arkansas Best Corporation (NASDAQ/NMS – “ABFS”) previously announced that it will be making a presentation at The New York Society of Security Analysts, Inc. (NYSSA) 3rd Annual Trucking and Transportation Industry Conference on Monday, May 6. The time of this presentation has changed and will now be at 11:20 a.m. EDT. This presentation will be held at the City Athletic Club at 50 West 54th Street, (between 5th & 6th Avenues) New York, NY. David E. Loeffler, Arkansas Best’s Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer will be speaking. This 40-minute presentation will include a 10-minute question and answer session. The live program will be Web cast (in a listen-only mode) and an archive will be available following the presentation.

To access the live audio and to view the speaker’s slide presentation, please go to the company’s web site at www.arkbest.com. This presentation will be archived for 15 days.

This change in Arkansas Best’s presentation time was the result of a last minute cancellation by another presenting company.

Contact: Mr. David Humphrey, Director of Investor Relations
              Telephone (479) 785-6200